Pair Walnut Chests
Vintage 1940s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Maple, Nutwood, Olive, Walnut
Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Walnut, Pine
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1930s British Art Deco Cabinets
Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Victorian Night Stands
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Modern Dressers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Rococo Night Stands
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Night Stands
Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Georgian Bedroom Sets
Walnut
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Night Stands
Walnut
Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Nouveau Dressers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Bookcases
Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Early 20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
Marble
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1930s English Cabinets
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century North American Modern Dressers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century Italian Cabinets
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Birch, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Night Stands
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Revival Console Tables
Iron
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Wood
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1850s Italian Renaissance Blanket Chests
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and C...
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of ...
Walnut, Burl
Antique 1890s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1940s British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1960s Canadian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1930s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nickel
Antique 1830s Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
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Finding the Right Commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Shopping for a commode or a chest of drawers?
Commode is the French term for a low chest of drawers, but it is also sometimes used to denote any case piece with a particularly intricate design. The commode dates to circa 1700 France, where it was used as an alternative to a taller cabinet piece so as to not obscure paneled, mirrored or tapestried walls. Coffers, or chests, which were large wooden boxes with hinged lids and sometimes stood on ball feet, preceded chests of drawers, a fashionable cabinet furnishing that garnered acclaim for its obvious storage potential and versatility. The term commode was also used to refer to a piece of bedroom furniture — a washstand or nightstand that contained a chamber pot.
As time passed, French and British furniture makers led the way in the production of chests of drawers, and features like the integration of bronze and ornamental pulls became commonplace. Antique French commodes in the Louis XV style were sometimes crafted in mahogany or walnut, while an Italian marble top added a sophisticated decorative flourish. This specific type of case piece grew in popularity in the years that followed.
So, what makes a chest of drawers different from a common dresser? Dressers are short, and chests of drawers are overall taller pieces of furniture that typically do not have room on the top for a mirror as most dressers do. Tallboys and highboys are variations of the dresser form. Some chests of drawers have one column of four to six long drawers or three long drawers in their bottom section that are topped by a cluster of small side-by-side drawers on the top. To further complicate things, we sometimes refer to particularly short chests of drawers as nightstands.
Even though chests of drawers are commonly thought of as bedroom furniture to store clothing, these are adaptable pieces. A chest of drawers can house important documents — think of your walnut Art Deco commode as an upgrade to your filing cabinet. Nestle your chest near your home’s front door to store coats and other outerwear, while the top can be a place to drop your handbag. Add some flair to your kitchen, where this lovable case piece can hold pots, pans and even cookbooks.
When shopping for the right chest of drawers for your home, there are a few key things to consider: What will you be storing in it? How big a chest will you need?
Speaking of size, don’t dream too big. If your space is on the smaller side, a more streamlined vintage mid-century modern chest of drawers, perhaps one designed by Paul McCobb or T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, may best suit your needs.
At 1stDibs, we make it easy to add style and storage to your home. Browse our collection of antique and vintage commodes and chests of drawers today.
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